Templeton Rye as it appeared before the lawsuit settlement (image via Templeton Rye)

If you are unfamiliar with what this lawsuit was about, or just in case you need a quick refresher, here is the nuts and bolts version as drawn from the settlement website:

A class action is a lawsuit in which one or more Plaintiffs—in this case, Plaintiffs Mario Aliano and Due Fratelli, Inc. (collectively, “Plaintiffs”)—sue on behalf of themselves and other people who allegedly have similar claims. Here, Plaintiffs filed a class action complaint against Defendant Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC (“Templeton Rye” or “Defendant”) in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on behalf of a proposed class of purchasers of Templeton Rye whiskey, alleging that Defendant engaged in deceptive marketing and charged premium prices by stating that its whiskey was “small batch” and “made in Iowa.” Templeton Rye denies any wrongdoing, and it has demonstrated to the Plaintiffs that Templeton Rye whiskey is not a “stock whiskey” that is simply purchased from a third party and poured into a bottle for sale.

Although Defendant denies Plaintiffs’ claims of wrongdoing, the Parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit by entering into a written settlement agreement entitled “Class Action Settlement Agreement” (the “Agreement” or “Settlement”). The individuals on whose behalf the Settlement has been made are called “Settlement Class Members.”

This agreement, which was given the preliminary okay by an Illinois court in late July, still must go through a final hearing in early December before money is distributed to those who file a claim. If you believe yourself to be one who might be eligible for so called “monetary relief” there are a few things you need to know first:

Those who are “eligible” include “all individuals and businesses in the United States who, between January 1, 2006 and July 21, 2015 purchased bottles of Templeton Rye whiskey or purchased alcoholic beverages containing Templeton Rye whiskey.”

Those who submit a claim form (see below for the link to this) along with proof(s) of purchase are entitled to receive $6 for each bottle purchased, up to a maximum of six. Proof of purchase is defined as “any written documentation, such as an itemized sales receipt, credit card statement, or UPC from a Templeton Rye bottle.”

If you don’t have proof of purchase you can still be eligible for $3 for each bottle you purchased, again up to a maximum of six per person.

If you consumed an alcoholic beverage containing Templeton Rye that was purchased on premise at a retail establishment (such as a bar or restaurant), you are entitled to $1 for each drink, up to a maximum of five.

Bottles which were purchased and later resold (i.e. businesses that purchased Templeton Rye whiskey for resale) are not eligible for this claim program.

Claim forms are limited to one per household.

Claim forms must be returned to the “Settlement Administrator” and postmarked on/or before November 18, 2015. This same date holds to those who submit a form online.

The maximum payment per valid claim is $36, with this amount being subject to reduction if “a large number of claims are filed.”

Now one thing I find particularly interesting to note for all the whiskey purists out there from all of this in the agreed upon language between the Templeton Rye people and those at the heart of this lawsuit is what this whiskey was defined as: “the parties agree that Templeton Rye is not a ‘stock whiskey’ sourced from a third-party and labeled ‘Templeton Rye.'”

Furthermore, as it is put another way on another part of the site, “Templeton Rye is a unique product made up of several ingredients that are combined in Templeton, Iowa.”

Take from the fact it is not considered a “stock whiskey” what you will.